Jorgensen: ‘Barao’ in for Rude Awakening at UFC 143

“I’ve wrestled against guys all through my career and competed
against guys that have had great winning streaks,” Jorgensen told
the Sherdog
Radio Network’s “Savage Dog Show.” “The biggest thing you’ve
got to remember is, it’s a gambler’s fallacy. It doesn’t matter
what happened in the 27 fights prior to UFC 143. Every time he
steps into that cage, it’s a whole new game. It doesn’t matter. His
confidence may be riding high and all that, but it’s a whole new
fight.”

Barao hasn’t lost since April 2005. Although many of his wins have
come in Brazil against opponents not everyone will recognize, he
was also 2-0 in the WEC and is now 2-0 in the UFC. Most recently he
submitted Brad
Pickett with a rear-naked choke in November.

“His toughest opponent to date was Brad
Pickett,” Jorgensen said. “He finished him, but I walked
through Brad in three rounds, a unanimous decision 30-27. It’s
going to be a good fight. It’s going to be fun, but he’s going to
get a rude awakening. He’s never fought a wrestler that can put him
down at will and that’s got a chin like his, that can stand there
and bang as well.”

Jorgensen has lost just once in his last eight fights -- a decision
to UFC bantamweight champion Dominick
Cruz. He has used his wrestling and strength to overwhelm
opponents, and he believes he’ll be able to do the same against
Barao.

“When I say he hasn’t faced a wrestler like me, he hasn’t faced
anybody with the ability to put him down on the ground as easy as I
can,” Jorgensen said. “Renan’s been fortunate enough to be the guy
that does that on his accord.”

Jorgensen expects to be the one who decides where the fight will be
fought -- standing or on the ground -- Saturday. He knows the Nova
Uniao product is well rounded, but he’s been preparing for Barao’s
jiu-jitsu game in particular. In fact, Jorgensen has been training
with Royler
Gracie black belt Diego
Moraes and his brother Daniel.

“They’re the ones who got me ready to go 15 minutes on the ground
with Jeff
Curran,” Jorgensen said. “Team Moraes Jiu-Jitsu, they’re
responsible for everything I’ve learned on the ground right now.
It’s the first time I’ve ever had a [jiu-jitsu] coach.”

Jorgensen had his coaches and teammates watch footage of Barao, but
he’s also seen enough himself to anticipate a barnburner.

“Don’t blink,” he said, “because I’ll guarantee you this: Barao’s
not one to shy away from a gunfight. I’m not either. It’s going to
be a nonstop war.”